Voluteer Policies and Procedures
1. Volunteer Program Mission Statement
The mission of the Gestalt Community Schools Volunteer Program is to actively promote a mutually rewarding relationship between our volunteers who offer their time, talent and skills, and our school communities where we are preparing our scholars to be college, career and community ready.
2. Purpose
2.1. The purpose of this volunteer policy is to provide the community with an understanding of schools and the educational process and to enhance the quality of education and student achievement. It is intended to enable the teachers to increase individualized instruction in the classroom and to enhance teacher effectiveness by providing them more time for educational activities and experiences.
2.2. This policy does not constitute, either implicitly or explicitly, a binding contractual or personnel agreement. Gestalt Community Schools reserves the right to change this policy at any time.
3. Scope
3.1. This policy applies to all volunteers and prospective volunteers in Gestalt Community Schools.
4. Definitions
4.1 Volunteers: A volunteer is anyone, who without compensation, performs a task at the direction of and on behalf of any school or office under the Gestalt Community Schools umbrella. Volunteers shall not be considered “employees” of Gestalt Community Schools.
5. Policy
5.1 Individuals under consideration for providing volunteer services may be subject to a background check. (See section 6)
5.2 Individuals refusing to submit to a required background check shall be ineligible to serve as a volunteer.
5.3 Willful falsification or omission of required volunteer information and/or documentation will result ineligibility to serve as a volunteer.
5.4 A volunteer may not donate their services to any school unless they complete and sign the Online Volunteer Information Sheet and Volunteer Agreement.
5.5 The school principal or their assigned designee will responsible for the volunteer including providing them with information regarding their assignment, safety, privacy, security, school policies and other relevant information regarding their assignment.
5.6 All volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, unless volunteer hours are specifically authorized by the principal for special scholar volunteer activities and/or opportunities.
5.7 Gestalt Community Schools reserves the right to terminate volunteers whose service does not support the goals of volunteerism and reserves the right to refuse the service of volunteers whose service does not support the goals of volunteerism. Volunteers terminated from service may appeal by written request to the Chief Operations Officer of Gestalt Community Schools.
5.8 Volunteers shall maintain professional wholesome relationships with students at all times. Volunteers may not use their authority to take advantage of a student in any way.
5.9 Volunteers will only communicate with a student outside of school with the explicit permission of the school and the student’s parent/guardian. Volunteers shall not communicate with a student by any means (e.g. letter, telephone, text, email, Internet) for reasons that are not directly related to the student’s education and that would be deemed unethical, illegal, or immoral. The principal, supervisor, or appropriate District staff has the right to restrict the types of communication between volunteers and students.
5.10 All volunteers are responsible for their own actions and are not agents of Gestalt Community Schools. In the event of legal action taken against a volunteer for actions associated with his/her activities as a volunteer, the Board may, in its sole discretion, furnish legal assistance or representation. Gestalt Community Schools has no legal duty whatsoever to defend or indemnify any volunteer for their actions, nor shall these rules and regulations create any expectation of defense or indemnification on the part of any volunteer.
6. Background Checks
6.1 Backgrounds checks may be required of volunteers based on their level, type and frequency of contact with scholars.
6.2 Level 1 – Unscreened Volunteers - Background checks are not required for volunteers that have no direct or extended contacts with scholars and must be directly monitored and supervised by school personnel at all times. Examples include guest speakers, program guests, CEO/Principal for the day participants, jurors/judges of student competitions, class readers (infrequent) and registration helpers.
6.3 Level 2 - Chaperones have direct but limited contact with students, both during and after school hours and must be monitored and supervised by school personnel. Examples of chaperones include daytime field trips chaperones, test monitors, and parents attending/chaperoning social functions and/or onetime events. Examples include Field Days, Banquets, Dances, Prom, Special Classroom Events. Chaperones are required to undergo yearly background checks.
6.4 Level 3 - Monitored Volunteers have direct and/or extended contact with students, both during and after school hours and must be monitored and supervised by school personnel. Examples of monitored volunteers include classroom assistants, school office/cafeteria assistants, daytime field trip chaperones for out-of-town field trips, hall monitors, safety patrol, and health room volunteers. Monitored Volunteer Background checks for Level 3 volunteers shall be conducted once every three years.
6.5 Level 4 - Unmonitored Volunteers have one-to-one direct and/or extended contact with students, both during and after school hours and may interact with students without the presence and direct supervision of district personnel. Examples of unmonitored volunteers include overnight chaperones, athletic assistants or coaches, one to-one/group tutors, one-to-one/group mentors, afterschool assistants (e.g. Chess team, Dance Team, Band, Athletics), academic and non-academic club sponsors, and interpreters. Background checks for Level 4 volunteers shall be conducted annually. Favorable results of the criminal background check must be made available to the District prior to providing unmonitored volunteer services.
6.6 The cost of completing the background check for volunteers will assumed by the school where the volunteer hours will be performed.
7. Employee Volunteers
7.1 Employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act must not be allowed to perform duties as described in their position description or as an extension of their employment as a volunteer. Work not requested but "suffered or permitted" is defined as compensable time under 29 C.F.R. 785.11.
8. Procedures
8.1 Prior to commencement of volunteer activities, all volunteers must complete the Volunteer Information Sheet and Volunteer Agreement.
8.2 All volunteers, including general volunteers, must sign in and out at their school/site location, present appropriate identification when requested, and wear identification badges when providing their volunteer service.
8.3 Each school must maintain official records of all volunteers who perform volunteer services in their building. A copy of the Volunteer Information Sheet and Volunteer Agreement should be forwarded to Human Resources at least 48 hours of the start date of the volunteer.
Gestalt Community Schools Volunteer Agreement Form
Your role as an education volunteer in the Gestalt Community School District is important and appreciated. The following expectations and responsibilities are critical to the success of this position. By signing this document you agree to the following:
· All volunteers must complete the Volunteer Information Sheet and Volunteer Agreement.
· As a volunteers, you serve only in an auxiliary capacity under the direction and supervision of professional school personnel and with the approval of the building administration.
· It is mutually and expressly understood that volunteer services shall be donated, and that said volunteer is not entitled to nor expects any present or future salary, wages, or other benefits for these voluntary services.
· Volunteer agrees to follow the supervision and direction of any personnel, employee, or volunteer, to whom volunteer has been assigned to perform services, and to participate in any training required by the Gestalt Community Schools in order to perform the voluntary services.
· Volunteer agrees that he/she will not be considered to be an employee of the Gestalt Community Schools, for any purposes other than tort claims and injury compensation, while performing the above described voluntary services.
· Volunteer further understands that if volunteer is responsible for injuries to third parties or damages to their property while acting outside the scope of assigned volunteer duties, that said volunteer may be held personally liable for any monetary damages a court may award to the injured party.
· It is further understood and agreed to by volunteer that the services rendered to the Gestalt Community Schools shall apply only in the case of liability arising out of the ordinary negligence that occurs during the scope of the volunteer’s services agreed to herein, and that in no way do any of these provisions apply for the benefit of volunteer, his/her heirs, executors or administrators in any action arising out of gross negligence, willful misconduct, or any other conduct on the part of said volunteer, which cause or may give rise to criminal liability.
· Volunteer further agrees that volunteer will fully cooperate with the Gestalt Community Schools and its agents in any investigation, lawsuit, arbitration, or any other legal or quasi-legal proceedings that arise from the matters covered by this agreement. Volunteer further agrees to notify the Gestalt Community Schools immediately of any incident that occurs or may occur within the knowledge of the volunteer, which gives rise to liability on the part of the volunteer of the charity.
· I understand that my volunteer assignment may be terminated at any time by either party to this agreement.
· I understand that I must sign in and out at the main office and wear a nametag.
· I agree to be prompt and consistent in my attendance. I acknowledge that teachers and students are depending on me and that I will notify the appropriate school employee as soon as possible if you can’t attend at my scheduled time.
· I agree that I will never be alone with a student out of the view of other people. I will always maintain visual or auditory contact between myself and a school employee.
· I agree that my role as a volunteer does not include disciplining students. I will report any concerns to the appropriate school employee.
· As a volunteer I will not have access to confidential files and records.
· I promise to be a positive role model for children in attitude, language, and behavior.
· I promise to be respectful of children’s diversity of culture, religion, and background. I will not assume a child celebrates the same holidays as myself. I will also not assume the make-up of a child’s family (size, race, or gender).
· I agree to maintain confidentiality of students and staff.
· I agree to be conscious of the way I will interact with students. I will not initiate touching a child (hand-holding, hugs, lap-sitting) but may reciprocate with an appropriate response.
· I agree to establish and maintain respectful, honest communication with school staff and other volunteers.
· I will never use profanity, be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, smoke, carry a weapon, solicit, or proselytize while on school grounds.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, please contact:
Name:
Telephone Number:
Relationship to Volunteer:
_______________________________________ _____________________ PARENT OR GUARDIAN SUGNATURE DATE